Ryanair’s cutbacks in Spain has led to the rise of competitors increasing their capacity
Maria Ortega and Kieran Isgin Money & Lifestyle writer
02:28, 06 Sep 2025
A Spanish budget airline is increasing its flight capacity(Image: Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A budget Spanish airline has confirmed it will bring in 30,000 new seats on flights for the Canary Islands. Iberia Express, owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG), announced that between October 2025, and January 2026, a total of 115 new flights will be introduced.
Meanwhile, it will change the size capacity of 150 flights to increase space. It comes as fellow budget airline Ryanair said it will cut down its operations in Spain, with roughly 400,000 fewer seats being available on its Canary Islands flights. Meanwhile, IAG will instead increase its operations in the Canary Islands by 5%, resulting in around 30,000 new seats for this winter alone.
The airline said it was doubling down on its commitment to improving ‘connectivity’ between the Canary Islands and its residents while helping to promote tourism outside of the traditional season. Isabel Rodríguez, commercial director of Iberia Express, said: “This increase in capacity in the Canary Islands reflects the firm commitment we have made to the islands since the beginning of our operations, a commitment we have maintained and strengthened over the years, demonstrating that we will always be with the Canary Islands under any circumstances.”
She added: “On the short-haul route, Palma de Mallorca, Vigo, and Alicante are some of the most frequent destinations for customers flying between Madrid and the Canary Islands.”
The company has also expressed its interest in improving connections to the north of Tenerife with a planned capacity of more than 15,000 additional seats. Furthermore, it will add eight more daily flights to Madrid during the winter season and 850 more seats for Tenerife South.
Fallout of Ryanair in Spain
Ryanair has confirmed that it will cut roughly one millions seats to spain throughout the winter period due to what it calls ‘excessive’ price hikes from the country’s airport operator, Aena. The operator announced a 6.62 per cent increase in airport charges starting from September 2026.
Meanwhile, Ryanair will reduce its flight capacity to regional Spanish airports by 600,000 seats and its Canary Islands flights by 400,000 seats in the winter. The budget airline will also close its operations at its base in Santiago, resulting in an investment loss of £149m in the Galicia region.
Similarly, all flights to Tenerife North will also be completely suspended by the end of the year. Flights to Vigo will also be suspended by January 1, 2026.
Ryanair accused Aena of focusing on making ‘record profits from the country’s main airports.’ It also said the operator and the Spanish government have “failed the Spanish regions”.
Despite the cutback, Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, said the airline is still “committed to Spain” but it “cannot justify continued investment in airports whose growth is being stymied by excessive and uncompetitive charges.”
He added: “It is shocking that, despite contributing €28bn (£24bn) to the Spanish economy and one in three tourists arriving on Ryanair flights, there is no willingness to collaborate to stimulate traffic in areas that need capacity, connectivity, and investment. Ryanair once again calls on the CNMC and the Spanish government to reject these excessive charge increases and extend the charge freeze to protect regional connectivity, tourism, and jobs.”